What Does it Mean to “Bake” an Analog Video Cassette?

Media preservation can be a tricky business. Due to age, humidity, or other factors, legacy formats like Sony U-Matic, Betacam, and other analog video cassettes can become warped, distorted, and unplayable. One well-known tape preservation method is baking tapes, which...
March 7, 2023

Storing and Preserving Sony U-Matic Tapes: 3 Challenges

Recently, we digitized ¾-inch Sony U-matic cartridges that had sat in storage for about four decades — with no considerations for humidity, heat, or other factors that could cause signal loss.  That project was largely successful, but it highlights the...
February 23, 2023

Datarecovery.com Restores Rare 1979 Interview with Talking Heads

With help from Datarecovery.com, an award-winning filmmaker and television producer has digitized some of his earliest work — including a rare 1979 interview with Chris Frantz, then-drummer for the Talking Heads. Greg Crutcher has had a storied career, serving as...
February 13, 2023